2 Kings 6

Chap. VI. Ver. 1—33. The sons of the prophets remove their habitation—Iron swims—Syrians smitten with blindness—Samaria besieged.—The sons of the prophets complain to their master that their school is too contracted, having probably much increased under his care, and have leave to remove. They fell trees from the banks of Jordan. While at work, the head of an axe falls off into the water, but Elisha causes it to swim, and it is recovered, which was a matter of honest gratulation—“for it was borrowed.” We are next told that the king of Syria again “warred,” or rather, he designed to war, “against Israel,” and took previous “counsel with his servants” concerning his encampments; but He, whose ear heareth all that is said in secret,

enabled Elisha to warn the king of Israel of his plans, and he found them all defeated: he therefore suspected treason in his council, until they informed him, that it was through Elisha that his secrets were betrayed. Exasperated at this, and not recollecting that this movement should be equally open to the prophet’s eye, he sends horses and chariots, and a great host, to surround the city. His servant, on rising in the morning, is struck with terror and alarm, until, on the prayer of his master, his eyes are opened, and he sees the mountain on which they dwelt encompassed with chariots and horses of ethereal flame. And thus he found, as his master had assured him, that more were for them than against them.—And thus may Christians console themselves under their severest trials.

Numerous and powerful as may be the enemies of their peace, the Lord “giveth his angels charge concerning them;” and they are surrounded with invisible protectors. As to Elisha, instead of carrying him off to their master, the host of the king of Syria are smitten with blindness, and carried to Samaria; but the king of Israel is not suffered to touch them: on the contrary, they are feasted, and sent back to their own master. Ben-hadad was, however, bent on war; and though we know not the ostensible cause, we well know, as is remarked, his enterprises.” In the following year he besieges Samaria and reduces it to the last extremity of famine, so that food becomes unattainable to the lower classes; insomuch that women were compelled to eat the fruit of their own

womb. The king, on hearing this, instead of feeling it as a visitation for his sins and those of the people, again vows the destruction of Elisha; and, laying all the blame on him, sends a messenger to take off his head. The prophet was, however, warned of this, and also that his master was just behind him: he therefore desires the elders of Israel who were with him, to detain the messenger till the king came; who, immediately as he appeared, began to reproach, not only the prophet, but the Lord also. “I see,” said he, “this evil of the Lord: what (or wherefore) should I wait for the Lord any longer?” Poor man! what will he do without him? The prophet’s answer begins the next chapter: in the mean time we may remark, that it little becomes creatures so dependant as we are, to be out of patience with our Maker.

Not wait for him? “It is in him we live, and move, and have our being!”

Notes on the verses

Ver. 24. The tower.—Perhaps it might be an old tower, in which he hid his ill-gotten treasures. HAP. VI. Ver. 5. The axe head.—The Hebrews very early manufactured iron tools, which art, perhaps, they acquired while working at the iron furnaces in Egypt; (Deuteronomy 4:20). | Ver. 13. Dothan.—{This is supposed to be the same place where Joseph was sold by his brethren; and it is placed by Eusebius 12 miles north of Samaria.]—Bagster. Ver. 18. Smite with blindness.—(Confound their sight, so that they may not know what they see; and so mistake one place for another. The word sanverim, rendered blindness, occurs only here and in (Genesis 19:11). on which see the note.]—Bagster. ant Ver. 22. Wilt thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive?—To slay and cruel

people no longer capable of resistance, is always considered both cowardly. Ver. 23. Came no more.—{That is, for a considerable time. What is mentioned in the next verse was more than a year afterwards. ]—Bagster. Ver. 25. An ass’s head.—\If the pieces of silver were drachms, as they most probably were, the whole would amount to about $10 75; Which was a great price for so mean a part of this unclean animal. A similar instance is mentioned by Plutarch, in his life of Artaxerxes, who informs us, that in that prince’s war with the Caducii, a ass’s head could scarcely be purchased at the price of 60 drachms, i. e. about $10.—Dove’s dung.—This and tabi denotes, as Bochart, Scheuchzer, and others, suppose, a kind of pulse or vetches, which the Arabs still call pigeon’s dung.

“They never,” says Dr. Shazo, “constitute a dish by themselves, but are strewed singly as pillows, and other dishes. They are besides in the greatest repute after they are parched in pans and ovens: then assuming the name leblebby;” and he thinks they were so called from being pointed at one end and acquiring an ash colour in parching.]–Bagster. Ver. 29. So we boiled my son.—This was threatened, and even predicted, by Moses; (Deuteronomy 28:56). Ver. a Son of a murderer.—Namely, of Ahab, who murdered Naboth and many others. 4: Ver. 33. The messenger came down.—Dr. Boothroyd (following, Dasha) inserts, ‘and the king, who had followed him.” So Josephus says, “The king (Jehoram) repenting of his cruel message, immediately followed the messenger.——He therefore said, What should I wait, &c.—Or rather, ‘Wherefore should I wait.”

So the Heb. particle is rendered, (Exodus 14:15). and elsewhere.